Amyl and the Sniffers free concert cancelled amid overcrowding and safety concerns
A free hometown Amyl and the Sniffers concert in Melbourne’s Fed Square was cancelled last minute on November 14th, due to overcrowding and safety reasons.
The Australian punk band, who are currently on tour with AC/DC, were set to headline a free, all-ages show, with pop-rock group Public Figures opening. Fans were able to see the opening set, but things took a turn for the worse before Amyl and the Sniffers took to the stage.
Attendees who approached the outdoor venue late were told that the venue was full. Subsequently, fences were erected around the square in order to control the large crowd.
Some latecomers did not take to this news well and began kicking the fence, attempting to get through even after the crowd had reached capacity. Some other fans tried to fight the security guards after sneaking past the initial barriers.
As a result, it was announced that the event was cancelled due to “safety concerns” over the public announcement system, not ten minutes before Amyl and the Sniffers were set to take to the stage.
“Unfortunately this evening, Fed Square was forced to cancel Amyl and The Sniffers’ show after multiple breaches of the perimeter fences caused a very high risk of crowd crushes,” MAP Co chief executive Katrina Sedgwick said.
She continued, “It was unsafe for the audience, the staff and the band to continue with the show. We did not make the decision lightly, and we are deeply, deeply sorry for any disappointment caused by this situation, however we simply could not continue. Our sincere apologies to the band and their fans.”
The band reacted to the situation via social media. They initially wrote on their story, “At fed square and fuming – ready to go! We are so sorry the show is cancelled due to the event not organising the proper security and barriers and the barriers being broken in has made them deem it unsafe to play.”
They continued an hour later, “Didn’t expect this turn out, so thank you for coming and supporting us. Gonna go get black out drunk somewhere in mourning.”
The band then posted a video in which they can be seen delivering a heartfelt apology to disappointed fans. They revealed they had put thousands of dollars behind the bar at plenty of local venues, so disappointed attendees can have a free drink on them. Lead singer Amy Taylor also admitted she had thrown a “tantrum” at the news.
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out Music Newsletter
All the latest music news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.